Apparatus for sensing the passage of coins through and the retention of coins in a coin handling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A coin changer has a chute assembly provided with coin channels through which coins pass. The channels are monitored by switches located behind the chute assembly and provided with operating wires. Some of the operating wires project directly into the channels from the back of the chute assembly. However, one of the operating wires is detachably connected with a control wire which extends across the front of the chute assembly and projects into its coin channel from the front. This facilitates disassembly and servicing of the chute assembly. The chute assembly also has two change tubes and these tubes are monitored by feelers which pivot in unison on a single shaft so that when either one of the tubes contains a prescribed amount of coins, the feelers will be out of their respective tubes. A single switch senses the position of the feelers.

United States Patent [191 Burzen Sept. 23, 1975 HANDLING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Norman J. Burzen, Pacific, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Nordon Industries, Inc., Fenton,

[22] Filed: May 6, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 466,990

Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gravely, Lieder & Woodruff [57] ABSTRACT A coin changer has a chute assembly provided with coin channels through which coins pass. The channels are monitored by switches located behind the chute assembly and provided with operating wires. Some of the operating wires project directly into the channels from the back of the chute assembly. However, one of the operating wires is detachably connected with a control wire which extends across the front of the chute assembly and projects into its coin channel from the front. This facilitates disassembly and servicing of the chute assembly. The chute assembly also has two change tubesand these tubes are monitored by feelers which pivot in unison on a single shaft so that when either one of the tubes contains a prescribed amount of coins, the feelers will be out of their respective tubes. A single switch senses the position of the feelers.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,907,088

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,907,088

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,907,088

Fxi

APPARATUS FOR SENSING THE PASSAGE or COINS THROUGH AND THE RETENTION OF COINS IN A COIN HANDLING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to coin machines and more particularly to apparatus for sensing the pasand the retention of coins in such of accepting coins of different value and are further ca-' pable of performing several functions once such coins are inserted. For example, the changers can distinguish between coins of, different value. They can also totalize coins of the same value'or different value when the cost 1 of the sale exceeds the value of any one coin. In addition, they can supply change when the total amount of coin inserted exceedsthe cost of the sale. Lastly, they can energize the vending machine upon receipt of the proper amount of coin. I I

The foregoing ends are achieved by directing coins of different value through different coin chutes, ,each of which has oneor more feelers or operating wires extended through it and these wires are in turn connected to switches. Hence, when a coin passes through a chute, it will trip the wires for that chute and operate the switches controlled by the wires.

Normally, three coin chutes'are provided, that is one for nickels, another for dimes, and still another for quarters, and these chutes are generally located sideby-side in a stacked arrangement with the dime chute interposed between the nickel and quarter chutes. As a consequence the operating wire for the quarter chute is directed into oneside of the stack while the operating wire for the nickel channel must be directed into the otherside of the stack. However, to simplify wiring and to facilitate servicing the changer, it is desirable to maintain all the switches on one side of the stacked arrangement of channels, and as a result, the operating wire for .one of the end channels is extended across the front of the stack and then doubled back to the switch it operates. This wire is usally quite long and must be bent severely during assembly and disassembly of the unit. u I

While in a sense the foregoing construction simplifies wiring and facilitates servicing of the machine, in another sense it complicates assembly and disassembly'of the coin chutes. In-particular, the doubled back operating wire must be bent severely to remove it from its coin chute.,-Many service personnel do not exercise sufficient care and as -a result the doubled back wire bee to provide means for monitoring a plurality of change-- tubes in a coin machine with a single switch. Still an- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a switch and coin chute arrangement for use in" coin changers. Another object is to provide a switch and coin chute arrangement which is easily assembled and disassembled. A further object is to provide a switch and coin chute arrangement which can be assembled and disassembled without permanently distorting delicate operating wires. An additional object is other object is to provide a chute and switch arrangement which is simple in construction and highly relicomes permanently bent to the point that it does not tube. When either tube is depleted of coins, its feeler I lever actuates the switch which causes a warning light to operate so that 'users will know the machine is incapable of making change: The use of separate levers for each tube complicates the mechanism and increases the cost of the overall machine. I I

able These andother objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter. The present invention is embodied in a coin machine having chute means provided with channels through which coins pass. A switch is on one side of the chute means and is provided with an operating element. A control element is extended over the other face of the chute means and is detachably connected to the operating element. The invention also resides in coin tubesmonitored by feelers on a Single shaft, the position of which is sensed by switch means. The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts whenever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin changer constructed in accordance with and'embodying the present" invention; A I

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lower half of the coin changer and showing the electrical switches which monitor the coin channels and the single switch for monitoring the change tubes;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the chute assembly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view'of'the front of the coin changer at the chute assembly;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken along lines 66 and 7-7, respectively, of FIG. 5 and showing a switch operating wire detachably connected to a control wire which projects into a coin channel;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 5 and showing the means for monitoring change tubes with a single switch; and I FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a feeler assembly used to detect coins in the change tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, (FIG. 1), C designates a coin changer including a housing H, as well as a coin chute assembly A, a slug rejector R; a payout unit P, and electrical circuitry E all of which is contained within and mounted on the housing H. The housing H has a pair of spaced apart sidewalls 2 and 4 and a center dividing wall 6 (FIGS. 2 and 3). It also has a coin return chute 8 located generally in the lower half thereof adjacent to the sidewall 4. The coin chute assembly A is located on one side of the dividing wall 6 while the electrical circuitry E is on the othef side. The

coin rejector R fits between the sidewalls 2 and 4 and is positioned directly above the coin chute assembly A. The payout unit P is directly below the coin chute assembly A.

The slug rejector R is conventional and supported on the sidewalls 2 and 4 such that it can easily be removed from the housing H. Coins introduced into the vending machine drop into a mouth at the top of the slug rejector R, and within the slug rejector R legitimate coins are segregated into three different paths or channels, depending on their value. These paths terminate at discharge slots 12, 14 and 16 (FIG. 3) located in the bottom of the rejector R directly above the coin chute assembly A. In particular, nickels are discharged from the rejector R at the slot 12, dimes are discharged at the slot 14, and quarters are discharged from the slot 16. The slots 12, 14 and 16 are arranged in that order with the quarter slot 16 being located closest to the wall 6. The rejector R further detects slugs and directs them to the coin return chute 8 from which they are discharged from the vending machine.

The coin chute assembly A includes three plates (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) namely a front plate 20, an intermediate plate 22 and a back plate 24, which are held to gether in a stacked arrangement by machine screws 26 threaded into the dividing wall 6 on the housing H. Thus, the plates 20, 22 and 24 are secured firmly to the housing center wall 6 by the screws 26.

The back plate 26 abuts directly against the center wall 6 and on its back side is provided with ribs which create a coin channel 28 (FIG. 3) against the center wall 6. The channel 28 is sized to accommodate quarters and its upper end aligns with the quarter slot 16 in the rejector R. On its front face the back plate 24 is provided with still more ribs (FIG. 4), and these ribs define another coin channel 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is sized to accommodate dimes. The upper end of the channel 30 aligns with the dime slot 14 in the rejector R. The quarter channel 28 is straight and terminates directly below where it begins. The dime channel 30, on the other hand, is somewhat curved in that it veers toward the coin return chute 8, but nevertheless begins and ends in substantially the same location as the quarter channel 28. In this connection, the channels 28 and 30 terminate above a coin discharge chute which directs coins to a collection box (not shown). In addition to the coin channels 28 and 30, the back plate 24 is further provided with a bracket 32 which extends upwardly toward the upper end of the coin return chute 8.

The intermediate plate 22 fits over the back plate 24 and has a flat back face which lies against the ribs on the front face of the back plate 24 so that the intermediate plate forms one wall of the dime channel 30. However, on its front face, the intermediate plate 22 has ribs (FIG. 4) which define still another coin channel 34 (FIGS. 3 and 4), and this channel is sized to accommodate nickels. The upper end of the channel 34 is adjacent the upper ends of the other channels 28 and 30 and aligns with the nickel slot 12 in the slug rejector R. The channel 34 veers toward the coin return chute 8 and then divides into two branches. One of the branches turns back and terminates adjacent to the discharge ends of the quarter and dime channels 28 and 30 so that nickels which enter this branch will drop into the collection box. The other branch terminates at semicylindrical tube half 36 (FIG. 4) which is formed integral with the intermediate plate 22 and extends downwardly to the payout unit so that nickels which enter this tube half are directed to the payout unit P. The intermediate plate 22 is provided with another tube half 38 which is attached to the tube half 36 and extends alongside the coin return chute 8. The tube half 38 is considerably longer than the tube half 36 and its upper end is unobstructed. The upper end of the tall tube half 38 is spaced outwardly from the upper end of the bracket 32 on the back plate 24. The lower ends of the tube halves 36 and 38 have vertical slots 40 which open toward the center wall 6.

The front plate 20 (FIG. 4) overlies the intermediate plate 22 and has a back face which bears against the ribs on the intermediate plate 22 so that the front plate 20 forms one wall of the nickel channel 34. The front plate 20 is also provided with tall and short tube halves 42 and 44 which are positioned in front of the tube halves 36 and 38, respectively, on the intermediate plate 22. The tube halves 36 and 42 together form a vertical change tube 46 which leads from the nickel channel 34 to the payout unit P. This change tube is sized to receive nickels from the nickel channel 34. When the tube 46 is completely filled with nickels, any additional nickels directed to the tube 46 through the channel 34 will merely be diverted into the branch thereof which leads to the coin collection box. The tube halves 38 and 44, on the other hand, together form another vertical change tube 48, and the upper end of this tube is completely open so that it can be easily filled by a service man. The lower end of the tube 48 likewise leads into the payout unit P.

The three channels 28, 30 and 34 are monitored by switches 50, 52 and 54 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are mounted on the opposite side of the center wall 6 and form part of the electrical circuitry E. In particular, the switch has an operating wire 56 which pivots thereon about an axis perpendicular to the wall 6. The wire 56 extends along the wall 6 in a generally horizontal disposition, and then turns toward the wall 6 and projects through aligned arcuate apertures 58 in the wall 6, the back plate 24 and the intermediate plate 22. The apertures 58 are concentric with the axis of rotation for the operating wire 56 and have their upper ends generally centered with respect to the sides of the quarter channel 28, while their lower ends are located to one side of the channel 28. Moreover, the quarter switch 50 spring loads the operating wire 56 such that the turned end of it is normally at the upper ends of the arcuate apertures 58. Hence, when a quarter drops through the quarter channel 28, it will move the turned end of the wire 56 from the upper ends of the apertures 58 to the lower ends and in so doing will operate the switch 50. When at the lower end, the turned portion no longer obstructs the channel 28 so that the quarter passes completely through the channel 28. Once the quarter passes by the turned portion of the wire 56, the spring within the switch 50 returns the operating wire 56 to its original position.

The switch 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) likewise has an operating wire 60 which pivots and in so doing operates the switch 52. This wire for the most part extends parallel to the wall 6, but at its end turns to the wall 6 and projects through aligned arcuate apertures 62 in the wall 6 and in the three plates 20, 22 and 24. These apertures are located at the offset portion of the dime channel so that a dime passing through that channel will move the wire and operate the switch 52.

The switch 54 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 7) also has an operating wire 64 which pivots on it about an axis perpendicular to the center wall 6. The wire 64 extends generally horizontal and parallel to the wall 6 for a short distance and then turns toward the wall. The turned portion of the wire 64 projects through an arcuate aperture 66 in the center wall 6 and on the opposite side of the wall 6 it is provided with an open loop 68 (FIG. 6) with the opening in the loop 68 being presented upwardly. The operating wire 64 is moved by a control wire which extends through the loop 68. One end of the control wire 70 is connected to a pivot pin 72 (FIGS. 4 and 7) which rotates in a hole formed in the bracket 32 of the back plate 24 near the end of that bracket. That hole is positioned such that the axis of the pin 72 is coincident to the axis of rotation for the operating wire 64. The pin 74 has a center flange which keeps it from passing completely through the holes in the bracket 32. The upper end of the tube half 38 abuts against the forward end of the pin 72 and keeps it from being withdrawn from the bracket 32. Beyond the loop 68 the control wire 70 turns outwardly past the side margins of the intermediate plate 22 and front plate 24 and then it again turns parallel to the center wall 6 and extends over the front plate 20. Finally, the control wire turns inwardly perpendicular to the wall 6 and plate 20, 22 and 24 and projects through arcuate apertures 74 located in the plates 20, 22 and 24 near the beginning of the dime and nickel channels 30 and 34, respectively. When the operating wire 64 is at the upper end of its arcuate aperture 66, as it normally is due to the force exerted by the spring within it, the inwardly turned end portion of the control wire 70 is at the upper ends of the arcuate apertures 74. The inwardly turned end portion, moreover, projects across the dime and nickel channels 30 and 34 so that when either a dime or a nickel passes through its respective channel 30 or 34, the control wire 70 will swing downwardly about the axis of the pivot pin 72. In this regard, the inwardly turned portion of the control wire 70 when at the upper ends of the apertures 74 is generally centered with respect to the coin channels 28 and 34 so that a coin will strike it. However, when at the lower ends of the apertures 74 the inwardly turned portion of the control wire 70 is located to the sides of the channels 30 and 34 so that coins will pass through the channels 30 and 34. Of course, when the control wire 70 pivots downwardly, the operating wire 64, being connected with it at the loop 68, also pivots downwardly and in so doing oper ates the switch 54.

The control wire 70 is easily released from the loop 68 in the end of the operating wire 64 and swings above all the plates 20, 22 and 24 so the mere fact that the control wire 70 normally extends over the front plate 20 does not in any way inhibit disassembly of the coin chute assembly A. In other words, when it becomes necessary to remove the plates 20, 22, and 24 from the wall 6, the free end of the control wire 170 is merely lifted out of the arcuate apertures 74, while the midportion is detached from the loop 68, and then the entire control wire 70 is swung upwardly into the space normally occupied by the slug rejector R. Then all of the plates 20, 22 and 24 can be withdrawn from the wall 6 after the screws 26 are removed. Once the front and intermediate plates 20 and 22 are removed the pin 72 and operating wire can be removed from the back plate 24.

The control wire 70 can also be detached from the loop 68 of the operating wire 64 Without lifting the wire 64 out of the arcuate apertures 74. Of course, the control wire 70 will be freed for removal from the chute assembly A once the front and intermediate plates 20 and 22 are withdrawn from the back plate 24, for then the upper end of the tube half 38 will no longer confine the pin 72 of the control wire 70.

The change dispensed by the payout unit P is derived entirely from the change tubes 46 and 48, and it is important to warn users when the supply of nickels in the tubes 46 and 48 is depleted. The change tubes 46 and 48 are monitored by a single switch (FIGS. 2 and 8) which is mounted on a bracket 82 attached to the wall 6. The switch 80 has an operating blade 84 (FIG. 8) located directly behind the change tube 46 and that blade is spring loaded by the switch 80 such that it is urged toward the tube 46. The operating blade 84 bears against the back side of a feeler 86 which aligns with the slot 40 in -the rear tube half 36 of the change tube 46 and urges that feeler 86 into that slot 40 and into the lower end of the tube 46. The feeler 86 is carried by a shaft 88 which extends through the upper end of the feeler 86. The ends of the shaft 88 rotate in tabs 90 projecting downwardly from a mounting bar 92 which is fastened to the center wall 6 by screws 94. The shaft 88 carries another feeler 96, and this feeler aligns with the vertical slot 40 in the tube half 38 of the tall change tube 48.

The feelers 86and 96 are located in position with respect to each other so that they rotate in unison on the shaft 88. In particular. the feeler 96 has a hub 98 (FIG. 9) through which the shaft 88 extends. and this hub has a socket 100 at one end and slots 102 at the sides of the socket 100. The feeler 96 likewise has a hub 104 through which the shaft 88 extends. but the hub 104 at its one end has a reduced portion 106 which fits into the socket 100 'of-thc hub 98. The. reduced portion 106 has nibs 108 projected radially from it. and these nibs fit into the slots 102 of the hub 98 and prevent the hub 104 from rotating with respect to the hub 98. The hubs 98 and 104 further maintain the correct spacing between the feelers 86 and 96.

When less than a predetermined amount of coins are in either of thecoin tubes 46 or 48, the spring loaded operating blade 84 urges the feeler 86 completely through the slot 40 in the short tube 46 and into the interior of that tube. When the feeler 86 is so disposed. the feeler 96 is projected through the slot 40 in the tube half 38 and into the interior of the tall change tube 48. However, when a prescribed amount of coins (X" amount) are in either one or both of the change tubes 46 and 48, the feelers 86 and 96 will be moved out of the interiors of those tubes and the feeler 86 will further depress the blade 84, thus changing the condition of the switch 80. For example, ifX amount of nickels are in in the bottom of the tube 48, they will hold the feeler 96 in its outer position. Since the feeler 96 is fixed firmlyin position with respect to the feeler 86, the latter will also be in its outer position irrespective of whether or not nickels are in the tube 46. The operating blade 84 is accordingly depressed. Thus, surveillance over the change tube 46 and 48 is achieved with a single lever with two feelers.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the in vention.

What is claimed is:

1'. In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and defining a coin channel through which .coins pass,'the improvement comprising: a control element at said other side of the wall and being mounted for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element being projected across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will pivot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and pivoting about anlaxis substantially coincident with the axis about which the control element pivots, the operating element being connected to the switch, the operating elementfurther being projected through the wall and being releasably connected to the control element at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the coin channel the switch operates.

2 In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and having a back side facing the wall and a front side spaced outwardly from the wall with the front side facing away from the wall, the chute means defining a coin channel through which coins pass, the improvement comprising: a control element at said other side of the wall and being mounted for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element extending over the front side of the chute means and further projecting across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will pivot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and being connected to the switch, the operating element further being projected through the wall and being releasably connected to the control element' at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the coin channel the switch operates.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the operating element has an open loop at one end, and the control element extends through the open loop.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the operating element is spring biased upwardly and the open portion of the loop therein is presented generally upwardly.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the control element may be released from the operating element by mere manual manipulation of the control element.

6. In a coin machine, the combination comprising: at least two coin tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition, the tubes having apertures in the sidewalls thereof; a shaft positioned outwardly from the tubes; feelers mounted on the shaft and aligned with the apertures in the tubes, the feelers being sized to project through the apertures and into the interior of the tubes,

the feelers further being connected together so as to rotate in unison about the axis of the shaft and being positioned on the shaft such that both feelers will project into their respective tubes contemporaneously and both will be located out of the interiors of the respective tubes contemporaneously, depending on the position of rotation for the feelers, whereby the presence of coins in either tube adjacent to the feelers will cause both feelers to be located outside of their tubes; and switch means responsive to the position of the feelers to sense when the feelers are projected into their respective tubes.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the switch means is a single switch.

8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein the switch urges the feelers to the positions in which they project into their tubes.

9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein one of the feelers bears against and operates the switch.

10. In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and defining a coin channel through which coins pass, the improvement comprising: a control element pivoted on the chute means at said other side of the wall for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element being projected across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will pivot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and being connected to the switch, the operating element being projected through the wall and further being releasably connected to the control element at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the channel the switch operates.

11. The structure according to claim 10 wherein the chute means is segmented and the control element is attached to a pin which fits into a hole in one segment of the chute means, and another segment of the chute means overlies the pin and keeps it from moving out of the hole.

12. In a coin handling machine having a coin chute provided with a coin channel through which a coin drops and further provided with a front face and an elongated arcuate aperture between the channel and the front face, an improved combination for sensing the passage of coins through the coin channel, said combination comprising: a switch mounted in a fixed position with respect to the chute; an operating wire pivoted on the switch and having an open loop at its end with the open portion of the loop being presented generally upwardly, the operating wire being remote from the coin chute and causing the switch to change condition when it pivots; and a control wire mounted for free pivoting movement at its one end about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute, the control wire having an end portion extended into the aperture and an intermediate portion located between the pivot axis and the end portion, the end portion of the control wire being extended across the coin channel so that coins dropping through the channel will.depress the control wire, the intermediate portion of the control wire being extended through the open loop in the operating wire so that when the control wire is depressed by a coin, the

operating wire pivots and changes the condition of the switch, the intermediate portion further being removable from the open loop of the operating wire through the opening in the loop by manual manipulation of the control wire, whereby the control wire is easily detached from the operating wire.

13. The structure according to claim 12 wherein the switch is further located beyond the front face of the 

1. In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and defining a coin channel through which coins pass, the improvement comprising: a control element at said other side of the wall and being mounted for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element being projected across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will pivot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and pivoting about an axis substantially coincident with the axis about which the control element pivots, the operating element being connected to the switch, the operating element further being projected through the wall and being releasably connected to the control element at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the coin channel the switch operates.
 2. In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and having a back side facing the wall and a front side spaced outwardly from the wall with the front side facing away from the wall, the chute means defining a coin channel through which coins pass, the improvement comprising: a control element at said other side of the wall and being mounted for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element extending over the front side of the chute means and further projecting across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will piVot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and being connected to the switch, the operating element further being projected through the wall and being releasably connected to the control element at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the coin channel the switch operates.
 3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the operating element has an open loop at one end, and the control element extends through the open loop.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the operating element is spring biased upwardly and the open portion of the loop therein is presented generally upwardly.
 5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the control element may be released from the operating element by mere manual manipulation of the control element.
 6. In a coin machine, the combination comprising: at least two coin tubes mounted in a generally vertical disposition, the tubes having apertures in the sidewalls thereof; a shaft positioned outwardly from the tubes; feelers mounted on the shaft and aligned with the apertures in the tubes, the feelers being sized to project through the apertures and into the interior of the tubes, the feelers further being connected together so as to rotate in unison about the axis of the shaft and being positioned on the shaft such that both feelers will project into their respective tubes contemporaneously and both will be located out of the interiors of the respective tubes contemporaneously, depending on the position of rotation for the feelers, whereby the presence of coins in either tube adjacent to the feelers will cause both feelers to be located outside of their tubes; and switch means responsive to the position of the feelers to sense when the feelers are projected into their respective tubes.
 7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the switch means is a single switch.
 8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein the switch urges the feelers to the positions in which they project into their tubes.
 9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein one of the feelers bears against and operates the switch.
 10. In a machine for accepting coins and having a housing provided with a generally upright wall, a switch on one side of the wall, and chute means on the other side of the wall and defining a coin channel through which coins pass, the improvement comprising: a control element pivoted on the chute means at said other side of the wall for pivoting motion about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute means, the control element being projected across the coin channel in the chute means such that when a coin passes through the channel it will pivot the control element; and an operating element at said one side of the wall and being connected to the switch, the operating element being projected through the wall and further being releasably connected to the control element at said other side of the wall such that when the control element pivots, the operating element moves and operates the switch, whereby when a coin passes through the channel the switch operates.
 11. The structure according to claim 10 wherein the chute means is segmented and the control element is attached to a pin which fits into a hole in one segment of the chute means, and another segment of the chute means overlies the pin and keeps it from moving out of the hole.
 12. In a coin handling machine having a coin chute provided with a coin channel through which a coin drops and further provided with a front face and an elongated arcuate aperture between the channel and the front face, an improved combination for sensing the passage of coins through the coin channel, said combination comprising: a switch mounted in a fixed position with respect to the chute; an operating wire pivoted on the switch and having an open loop at its end with the open portion of the loop beinG presented generally upwardly, the operating wire being remote from the coin chute and causing the switch to change condition when it pivots; and a control wire mounted for free pivoting movement at its one end about an axis fixed in position with respect to the chute, the control wire having an end portion extended into the aperture and an intermediate portion located between the pivot axis and the end portion, the end portion of the control wire being extended across the coin channel so that coins dropping through the channel will depress the control wire, the intermediate portion of the control wire being extended through the open loop in the operating wire so that when the control wire is depressed by a coin, the operating wire pivots and changes the condition of the switch, the intermediate portion further being removable from the open loop of the operating wire through the opening in the loop by manual manipulation of the control wire, whereby the control wire is easily detached from the operating wire.
 13. The structure according to claim 12 wherein the switch is further located beyond the front face of the chute.
 14. The structure according to claim 12 wherein the switch is mounted opposite one side of an upright wall, the control wire is mounted opposite the other side of the upright wall, and the operating wire extends through the upright wall. 